Unmasking the Heiress

Both Evangeline and Walter eyed the insistent phone. With a nudge, she urged Walter to give her some

space.

Realizing she had something urgent to attend to, Walter backed off with a resigned sigh and started scrolling through his phone.

He was frustrated to no end. Why did every perfect moment between them have to be interrupted? Was fate really against him and Evangeline being together?

Evangeline, oblivious to Walter's inner turmoil, could not help but think that her estranged father, Andrew, had unwittingly done her a favor that time.

"What's up?" she snapped as she answered the call disdainfully.

"You better come over tonight! Meet me at Crystal Waters Apartment," Andrew barked back, even less politely.

Evangeline pulled the phone away from her ear, saving herself from his grating, loud voice.

"Ha, as if 111 jump just because you say so. Who do you think you are? You think you're something special just because you're my dad?" She lashed out, unafraid. With her grandfather's support, she was far from the shivering, lonely little girl she once was in the cold wint "You backstabber. You've got the nerve to bad-mouth your own dad? Aren't you scared of getting zapped by a bolt from the blue?" Andrew was all fired up when he heard Evangeline's words.

"Hal Struck by lightning? You've done plenty of vile stuff without batting an eye, so what's there for me to fear? If lightning is going to hit anyone, it should be you first, you heartless, greedy snake!

f your

"Got anything else to say? If you're not six feet under, don't bother calling me. Just the sound of voice is enough to make my skin crawll" Evangeline spat out her words without pausing for air. Walter, standing off to the side, silently gave Evangeline a thumbs- up. She was a real warrior, bold enough to lash out at her own father like that.

Thinking about it, the way Evangeline had chewed him out before seemed pretty tame in comparison, did she not?

He did not give a hoot about how Evangeline treated her father. Walter knew bits and pieces about the family drama-

how Evangeline's mom passed away when she was little, and Andrew married Lydia. From that point on, he never saw Evangeline in clothes that fit right, and even in the dead of winter, she would be in a flimsy dress and flip-flops, her hands and feet chapped and raw. Back then, Trey kept a tight leash on his wallet, so Walter and some buddies shook down other kids for protection money' to buy Evangeline a proper winter coat. However, the very next day, that coat was warming Julia instead.

After that, Evangeline vanished. When he pressed Julia, she said Evangeline had gone off to a rural area with her grandfather.

Walter did not know the whole story, but the bits he saw were enough to tell him Andrew was no 'Father of the Year". If Evangeline had not been scooped up by her grandfather, she might have ended up aThis is the property of Nô-velDrama.Org.

popsicle in that blizzardy winter.

"Evangeline, do you really believe I killed your mother?" Andrew's voice thundered through the phone.

"What else am I supposed to think? If you hadn't cheated with Lydia while my mom was pregnant, would she have been driven to such despair that she took her own life as well as her unborn child's?" Every time Evangeline thought about it, she seethed with a rage so deep she wanted to tear Andrew and Lydia apart.

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was your mother, the one who couldn't Keep Ther lege closed even with a tally the way She was the he caught in the set and the offer herself out than the bathy? we know with the father was you think you've got any night to scream at mw? You're just me low as the we

hut your mouth Andrew My mother's biggest misfortune was crossing paths with a lowife like you You're going to get what's coming to you and if the universe doesn't strike you down, make sure you

pay

Then argument escalated quickly the heated words crackling through the phone line like electricity,

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Listen up. Tvangeline, rm onto all the drama lately if you don't leave Waiter and clear your cter's name, t'i spill every dirty secret your mother ever had And your dear grandfather? if you so much as think about crossing me I' snuff him out Hes just a simple farmer- taking him out would be as easy as stepping on an ant." Andrew's threat was icy and calculated

"Fine, fine, fine" spat Evangeline furiously. Andrew had no idea who he was dealing with. He did not the first thing about her grandfather's true stature, yet he dared to threaten his life. Little did he know

a word from her grandfather, Andrew's days could be numbered

"Andrew, wait for me," Evangeline snapped before abruptly ending the call

Walter watched as Evangeline hastily gathered her things, ready to storm out. He rose to follow her

"What are you doing trailing me?" she spun, her eyes flashing. "Change your mind? Want your shares back?

Tm just looking for some excitement" said Walter with a grin, though his concern for her was clear-he did not like the idea of her facing trouble alone

"Mind your own business and stay out of our family matters," snapped Evangeline, giving hum no quarter

"Hey, I'm still your ex and part of the Rearden family. That makes me at least half-involved," he retorted.

Forget about it. Don't think I've dropped the divorce issue. I'm warning you, stop following me, or I'll have my lawyer slap you with another subpoena tonight," she threatened, pointing sternly at his feet

Walter knew when he was beaten. Threats always got to him, and he had no desire to escalate things with Evangeline. He stopped in his tracks

"Alright if you need anything, just call. I'll be here," he offered.

Evangeline ignored him, slamming the door behind her as she left in a whirlwind.

The idea of dragging Walter along was laughable if he laid eyes on Julia, he would be rooted to the spot, love-struck Sure, the shares kept him in line for then, but there was no telling if he would be lured away by a pretty face into doing something utterly foolish. She jumped into Walters sleek sports car, which was still parked at the company, and sped off toward Crystal Waters Apartment. She was determined to uncover whatever mischief that tho was up to

She made the hour-long drive in a mere 40 minutes. Evangeline breezed through the front door with her own key, finding Andrew and his crew mid-discussion about their personal drama in the living room. She